Trilliums on Red Horse Lake
Ever so brief a period that Trilliums flower... here is a group nestled up against a rock face.
Nice 4 foot long specimen of Pantherophis alleghaniensis ... incorrectly called a Black Rat Snake... it's real name is Eastern Gray Rat Snake... Read more here
GANANOQUE RIVER WATERSHED STEWARDSHIP PROJECT SHORELINE REVIEWS
Matt, as an intern with the Centre for Sustainable Watersheds, along with another intern, did about 800 Shoreline Reviews of properties during the summers of 2010 and 2011 in this boat on 8 areas of the Watershed. ( See the new Gan River Watershed map.) They then spent the winters writing up the individual reviews. Volunteers collated them into binders ready for delivery to each property owner.
There are three purposes of these Shoreline Reviews:
First, for the property owner to know and feel proud about the positive aspects of their property and to also understand where improvements can be made. The most often cited praise is for a natural plant buffer, preferably about 5 metres wide, along the shoreline; in contrast, the lack of such a buffer, replaced by mowed lawn to the shore is the most cited problem. Suggestions and sources to remedy problems are part of the binder.
Second, the areas are graphed and mapped to show where the percentage of shorelines are natural, ornamental or regenerative. This data was very important in the case of South Lake when blue-green algae was detected in the water in 2011. With a 98% natural shoreline shown, it is almost a certainty that the high phosphate levels are not the result of development and septics; MOE is looking at other possible sources.
Third, it is hoped to use this data and more from programs such as the water quality measurements done by volunteers for MOE Lake Partner Program to help shape a Watershed Review to update the one done for CRCA in 1980. The Gananoque River Watershed is extensive, covering a rough square about 50 km from South Lake to Centre Lake just northeast of Brockville and 55 km from Plum Hollow Creek to the Town of Gananoque.
The boat was loaned by Chuck Shaw from Shawmere Resort on Red Horse Lake for both those years as well as the first 2 years of the Project. GRWA and its Project partners are very grateful to Chuck for his generosity. Bud Rowe was also very helpful in taking out the interns in his boat and we thank him for this.
For those who missed the Shoreline Lunch in August , the final report of Reptiles at Risk, 2010 can be viewed here
Matt, as an intern with the Centre for Sustainable Watersheds, along with another intern, did about 800 Shoreline Reviews of properties during the summers of 2010 and 2011 in this boat on 8 areas of the Watershed. ( See the new Gan River Watershed map.) They then spent the winters writing up the individual reviews. Volunteers collated them into binders ready for delivery to each property owner.
There are three purposes of these Shoreline Reviews:
First, for the property owner to know and feel proud about the positive aspects of their property and to also understand where improvements can be made. The most often cited praise is for a natural plant buffer, preferably about 5 metres wide, along the shoreline; in contrast, the lack of such a buffer, replaced by mowed lawn to the shore is the most cited problem. Suggestions and sources to remedy problems are part of the binder.
Second, the areas are graphed and mapped to show where the percentage of shorelines are natural, ornamental or regenerative. This data was very important in the case of South Lake when blue-green algae was detected in the water in 2011. With a 98% natural shoreline shown, it is almost a certainty that the high phosphate levels are not the result of development and septics; MOE is looking at other possible sources.
Third, it is hoped to use this data and more from programs such as the water quality measurements done by volunteers for MOE Lake Partner Program to help shape a Watershed Review to update the one done for CRCA in 1980. The Gananoque River Watershed is extensive, covering a rough square about 50 km from South Lake to Centre Lake just northeast of Brockville and 55 km from Plum Hollow Creek to the Town of Gananoque.
The boat was loaned by Chuck Shaw from Shawmere Resort on Red Horse Lake for both those years as well as the first 2 years of the Project. GRWA and its Project partners are very grateful to Chuck for his generosity. Bud Rowe was also very helpful in taking out the interns in his boat and we thank him for this.
For those who missed the Shoreline Lunch in August , the final report of Reptiles at Risk, 2010 can be viewed here
These newly hatched snapping turtles were photographed by GRWA Board member Rod Munro near his home on South Lake. "We witnessed a turtle hatching today. We were walking up the lane and saw something move and then we realized that about 20 baby turtles were coming out of the spot just beside the driveway . It is a long way to the water, but they seemed determined and heading in the right direction."
From Shaun Thompson, an MNR Ecologist:
The key feature to note is the long tail - characteristic for the species at all ages - also the strongly serrated carapace. This is quite an early hatch, probably due to this year’s consistent warm summer with an early onset to egg laying as well. with any luck they'll live to be old-timers [maybe fourscore or more].
